Srinagar : Former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Mehbooba Mufti has alleged that “government forces are being used to rig elections and favour a particular party” in a village in south Kashmir’s Shopian district.
Taking to her Twitter handle, the Peoples Democratic Party President said, “Security forces have cordoned Matribugh in Shopian & are not allowing people to come out to vote under the pretext of inputs about presence of militants. In a brazen display of power, armed forces are being used to rig this election & favour a particular party @ECISVEEP @adgpi.”
Polling is underway for the fifth phase of the District Development Council (DDC) elections in Jammu and Kashmir.
The polling for 37 DDC seats — 17 in the Kashmir division and 20 in the Jammu division — began at 7 AM.
A total of 155 candidates, including 30 females, are in the fray for 17 DDC constituencies in the Kashmir division.
In the Jammu division, 144 candidates, including 40 females, are in the fray for 20 constituencies.
Polling is also being held for panch and sarpanch vacancies notified in the fifth phase.